On Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 the frst ‘Just Walk Out Shopping’ store opened to the public. After nearly a year- long delay this new kind of store was created by online retailer, Amazon. The revolutionary way of shopping is like no other, as it has no checkout. In short, Amazon made the most modern shopping technology, so you never have to wait in line.

This unprecedented kind of store is said to be a game changer for the grocery and retail industry. The frst and only store at the moment is in Seattle, Wash., but Amazon plans to expand its store to different locations around the country in the near future according Amazon. The store is open Monday to Friday from 7:00a.m. to 9:00p.m.. The single 1,800 square-foot store, located in the middle of Amazon’s Seattle campus, was frst presented to the public in late 2016.

The way the store works is that one simply walks into the Amazon Go store, opens their app that they previously download on their phone, the customer takes the products they want off the shelves, and then walk straight out of the store. This means no lines and no checkout per The Chicago Tribune.This new way of shopping requires the implementation of technology that other companies, in other industries, are using for self-driving cars.

This technology includes computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning. This system is applied in the store by detecting when products are taken from or returned to the shelves and keeps track of them in a virtual cart. When one is done shopping and walks out the door, the app simply charges the amount and value of items you left with to your Amazon account and sends a receipt.

This one-of-a-kind store offers ready to eat meals that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snack options made by Amazon’s chefs and favorite local kitchens and bakeries. The store’s selection of grocery essentials ranges from normal goods like bread and milk to artisan cheeses and locally made chocolate. Another product is a quick home- cooked dinner kit, made by Amazon’s chefs with all the ingredients to make a meal for two that takes little as 30 minutes to prepare.

To add on what was mentioned before, the steps to be able to shop at Amazon Go are quick and easy. All you need is an Amazon account, the free Amazon Go app, and one of the latest generations of iPhone or Android phones. The Amazon Go app is accessible from the Apple App store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore. When you get to the store, open the app and scan your code to get into the store, then put your phone away and enjoy the shopping experience. When you are done simply walk out without the hassle of waiting in line or checking out at a cashier.

To answer a question that many people have asked: Amazon Go does actually have employees working at the store. It is quick to assume that a store with no cashiers is trying to save money by cutting down on staff needed to operate the store. Amazon Go has a team of associates that work both in the kitchen and the store to prep ingredients, make the ready to eat foods and meals; stock shelves, and help customers with anything they need.

According to Amazon, this new kind of store was made to answer the following questions: “What if we could create a shopping experience with no lines and no checkout? Could we push the boundaries of computer vision and machine learning to create a store where customers could simply take what they want and go? Our answer to those questions is Amazon Go and Just Walk out Shopping.” Amazon said in a public statement on their website.

With this breakthrough and the acquirement of Whole Foods, Amazon is furthermore cementing its place in the food industry. Only the future holds the potential Amazon and other big corporations have to improve and innovate the way we live our daily lives through the advancement of breakthrough technology.